Football Notebook: Apps Add Highly Touted WR

Published Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 3:10 pm

Tacoi Sumler, a redshirt freshman from Miami, Fla., has transferred to Appalachian State from the University of Oregon. A former four-star recruit, Sumler will join the Mountaineers on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Geoff Thurner (GoDucks.com) and Appalachian Sports Information

Aug. 14, 2012. Appalachian State University football had announced the addition of Tacoi Sumler, a transfer from the University of Oregon. Sumler, a 5-9, 173-pound wide receiver, will begin practicing with the Mountaineers on Wednesday.

A four-star recruit out of Christopher Columbus H.S. in Miami, Fla. in 2011, Sumler redshirted last season at Oregon and announced his intention to transfer closer to home this month. Known for his world-class speed, he has been timed as low as 4.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

Sumler is eligible to play immediately at Appalachian and has four years of eligibility remaining. He will wear No. 6 for the Mountaineers this season.

TACOI SUMLER (WR, 5-9, 173, Fr., Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus)

Previous College: Redshirted in 2011 as a true freshman at the University of Oregon … caught three passes for 15 yards in Oregon’s 2012 spring game.

High School: Rated a four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com and a three-star prospect by Scout.com … member of the prestigious ESPN 150 as the No. 62 prospect in the nation and the 11th-best wide receiver in the high-school class of 2011 … tabbed as the country’s No. 87 recruit by The Sporting News … participated in the 2011 Under Armour All-American game and also earned all-America accolades from PrepStar Magazine … represented the United States as a member of the USA U-19 national team for the 2011 USA vs. The World game … two-time National Underclassmen Combine MVP … caught 116 passes for 1,984 yards and 26 touchdowns over his final three seasons, including 84 receptions for 1,475 yards and 21 touchdowns in two seasons at Christopher Columbus (2009 and 2010) … all-around talent also had three kickoff returns for touchdowns and amassed four interceptions, one of which he returned for a score, en route to second-team all-state and first-team all-Miami-Dade County recognition as a junior … began his prep career at Gulliver Prep H.S. in Pinecrest, Fla., where he caught 32 passes for 509 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore … coached at Christopher Columbus by Chris Merritt … was also a track standout at Christopher Columbus, clocking a 10.49-second time in the 100-meter dash, which was the fastest time in the nation in 2010 according to ESPN’s Scouts, Inc.

Personal: Full name is Tacoi Jamil Sumler … son of Wanda and Tommy Sumler … born Oct. 3, 1992 (turns 20 during season) … majoring in marketing.

MOUNTAINEERS RANKED NO. 6 IN PRESEASON MEDIA POLL: Appalachian State is ranked No. 6 nationally in The Sports Network’s NCAA Division I FCS preseason top 25 poll, which was announced on Monday. The Sports Network poll is voted on by a national panel of writers, broadcasters, and sports information and media relations directors.

Incredibly, the lofty No. 6 is ranking is Appalachian’s lowest in The Sports Network’s preseason poll since it was unranked prior to the 2005 season, which turned out to be the first of three-straight national championship campaigns for the Mountaineers.

Appalachian received one first-place vote among the 152 preseason ballots. Defending national runner-up Sam Houston State (79 first-place votes) tops the preseason media poll, followed by 2011 national champion North Dakota State (59 first-place votes), Georgia Southern (six first-place votes), Montana State (three first-place votes) and James Madison (three first-place votes). After Appalachian, Towson, Old Dominion, Northern Iowa and Wofford round out the top 10. Montana, the Apps’ opponent for their Sept. 8 home opener, begins the next 10 at No. 11.